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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-16 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 16, 2011 Council Chambers, City Hall 1830 County Road BEast A. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Schreiner. B. ROLL CALL Bill Schreiner, Chair Randee Edmundson, Vice Chair Judith Johannessen, Commissioner Carole Lynne, Commissioner Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Absent Present Absent Present Absent Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Yingling moved to approve the aqenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes - All The motion passed. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Johannessen moved to table the April 18. 2011. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All The motion passed. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Maplewood Mall Stormwater Improvements a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item. b. Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Administrator, Cliff Aichinger, gave the presentation and answered questions of the commission. c. Assistant City Manager, Chuck Ahl addressed the commission. Mr. Aichinger stated that the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) has been collaborating with the City of Maplewood, Ramsey County and the owners of Maplewood Mall (Simon Properties), on a plan to provide for stormwater treatment and volume reduction (infiltration) for the reconstruction of County Road D and White Bear May 16,2011 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Avenue adjacent to the Mall. Since both roadways have very limited right-of-way and providing infiltration practices would be difficult, the District suggested that the City and County work with the District to retrofit portions of parking lots at Maplewood Mall to provide the required treatment. This discussion has led to a multi-year plan for retrofitting the parking areas at the mall with various BMPs (best management practices) to reduce the quantity of runoff and improve the quality of stormwater runoff leaving the site. The stormwater runoff from the mall area is tributary to Kohlman Creek and drains to Kohlman Lake. Kohlman Lake is an impaired water for excess nutrients (phosphorus - which leads to excessive algae blooms, reduced clarity, and water recreational impacts). The "impaired" status required the preparation of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Study to identify the sources of phosphorus and to specify projects or programs that can reduce the phosphorus runoff and improve the lake. The TMDL Implementation Plan provides for a number of programs and projects to improve the lake over the next decade. One of the primary improvement activities is to reduce the volume of runoff reaching the lake. Therefore, the District is pursuing cost-effective retrofit projects such as the parking areas at Maplewood Mall to make these improvements. The commissioners reviewed the presentation and asked questions of Mr. Aichinger. Commissioner Johannessen asked who would be maintaining the trees and rainwater gardens on the Mall property. Mr. Aichinger indicated that the Watershed District would be maintaining the trees and rainwater gardens? Mr. Ahl asked Mr. Aichinger how much coordination was required by the Watershed District, County, and City. Mr. Aichinger indicated that it took a great deal of coordination to make the project work. The City and the County contributed to the Watershed District's impact fund to assist in stormwater improvements for the roadwork on County Road D and White Bear Avenue. Commissioner Yingling asked if the Maplewood Mall stormwater improvements would get the Watershed District to their phosphorus reduction goals for Kohlman Lake. Mr. Aichinger stated that it would take approximate 300 to 400 rainwater gardens to reach the phosphorus reduction goal. The Maplewood Mall accounts for about 15 miles of roadway improvements and stormwater improvements. The Mall's stormwater improvements will help the Watershed District meet 20 to 30 percent of that goal. Commission Yingling asked if the Watershed District would be monitoring the rainwater gardens. Mr. Aichinger stated they will be monitoring and will be able to show the benefits of these improvements. Chair Schreiner asked Mr. Aichinger if there was anything that the city could do to encourage Sears to participate in the stormwater improvements on their portion of the Mall property. Mr. Aichinger indicated that the Sears' local management has been very good to work with, but the corporate headquarters with all of their attorneys are more difficult to maneuver. The Commission thanked Mr. Aichinger for this presentation. 2. Capital Improvement Plan a. Assistant City Manager, Chuck Ahl gave the presentation and answered questions of the commission. May 16,2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Commissioner Yingling noted that the fuel costs for the City will be increasing. She was wondering what the City will be doing in the future to conserve fuel. Mr. Ahl indicated that the City is having a fleet audit completed which will reflect areas the City can make improvements on conserving fuel. Chair Schreiner asked how many full time staff would be needed for the proposed fire station on the 3M property. Mr. Ahl indicated that the City would actually close three of its existing fire stations, and build one new station on the 3M property which would amount to operational cuts for the Fire Department. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the Capital Improvement Plan for 2012-2016. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen Ayes - All The motion passed. F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Chicken Ordinance a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report. Chair Schreiner inquired about requiring climate control in a chicken coop. If the City is requiring that a chicken coop be heated the City should require that the chicken coops be hardwired. Environmental Planner indicated that chickens can survive in a chicken coop without a heater; it just needs to be well insulated and ventilated. So the ordinance could be changed to remove the requirement for a heater or a fan. Chair Schreiner asked about requirements for the appearance of a chicken coop. Environmental Planner indicated language could be added to require that a chicken coop be built in a workmanship type manner. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the chicken ordinance with the addition of chicken coops beinq built and kept in a workmanship manner. Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. Ayes - Commissioner's Johannessen, Mason Sherrill & Yingling Nav - Chairperson Schreiner The motion passed. 2. 2011 Goal Implementation Strategies a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a brief report on the three items. The Commission decided to continue the Trash Hauling goal through the work of the Trash Hauling Working Group which is made up of two City Councilmembers and three ENR Commissioners (Trippler, Yingling, Schreiner). The Greenway subcommittee will be made up of Commissioners Yingling and Trippler. The Environmental Neighborhood Subcommittee will be made up of Commissioners Edmundson, Johannessen, and Mason Sherrill. i. Trash Hauling ii. Greenways iii. Environmental Neighborhood Groups May 16,2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS 1. Ron Cockriel, 943 Century Avenue, addressed the Commission about the fact that he used to raise chickens at his residence. 2. Mayor Rossbach addressed the Commission and expressed some concern over how long it took for the ENR Commission and Planning Commission to review and make a recommendation on the chicken ordinance. He is looking forward to the City Council's review of the ordinance in the near future. Mayor Rossbach stated that he has been asked by the Rotary Club for possible funding opportunities in the City for their organization. Mayor Rossbach is asking all boards and commission for any ideas they would have on funding. The Commission suggested the city's tree planting program, Nature Center programming, educational signage for recycling in the parks, and educational signage for no smoking in the parks. H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. I. STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1. Gervais Lake Vegetation Management Plan Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a brief report on the Gervais Lake Vegetation Management Plan. Ms. Finwall stated that goals of the plan are to identify strategies to restore or enhance lake shore habitat (Le. lake shore restoration, mitigating source pollution through working with the watershed district, etc.); reduce the levels of silt and nutrients within and entering the lake through activities such as identification and mitigation of stormwater run-off sources; maintain or increase abundance and distribution of native submersed aquatic plants throughout the growing season; and build in flexibility to address invasive aquatic plants Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed if they become a problem. 2. Living Streets Task Force Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall asked for a volunteer to serve on the Living Streets Task Force. Because not all of the commission members were present Ms. Finwall indicated she would e-mail that request to all Commissioners separately. 3. ENR Commission Annual Report Update Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall stated that the ENR Commission's Annual Report was accepted by the City Council on May 9, 2011. 4. ENR Commission Membership Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall stated that the City has received a resignation from Commissioner Carole Lynne from the ENR Commission. The vacancy will be posted with interviews conducted by the City Council later this summer. There are also two existing Commission positions which will expire on September 30, 2011 - Chair Schreiner and Commissioner Johannessen. 5. Waterfest - May 21, 2011 Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on Waterfest Saturday, May 21, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Lake Phalen Park. May 16,2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4 6. Maplewood Nature Center Programs Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on upcoming programs held at the Maplewood Nature Center. You can call 651-249-2170 for more information on these programs. J. ADJOURNMENT Chair Schreiner adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. May 16,2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5